System and method for managing a continuing education program

Abstract

A system and method for managing a continuing education program. A request submission to attend a CLE course may be sent to a supervisor to be approved or disapproved. The method may include storing on an electronic storage device the financial information related to a budget for the continuing education program and continuing education information including a course identifier. The method further includes receiving estimated attendance costs for attending the continuing education program and comparing the estimated attendance costs to the financial information to determine whether the estimated attendance costs are within a budget for a person to attend the continuing education program.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The law profession is noble in its goal to maintain the skills and knowledge of practicing lawyers at high proficiency levels. One way that the legal profession regulates practicing attorneys is by requiring members of the bar to take a required number of continuing legal education (CLE) courses to reach a certain number of credit hours. CLE credit hours are typically achieved by attending seminar courses taught by other members ofthe legal profession, teaching seminar courses, watching previously recorded courses, conducting self-study hours, and other approved forms of continuing legal education. The requirements for CLE vary from state to state as set by each state bar. The amount and type of CLE credits required by each state bar may vary significantly. Currently, as reported by the American Bar Association (ABA), 40 state bars have mandatory CLE requirements in order for attorneys to practice law in the individual states. [0002] To illustrate ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] To provide CLE training management for a company or firm that is useful for management purposes, the principles of the present invention may be integrated into a CLE training system to improve a law firm's ability and efficiency in assisting attorneys in identifying and locating CLE training opportunities, approving the CLE training by firm management, and maintaining CLE training budgets. The CLE training system may be integrated into a network accessible to attorneys and management of a law firm, for example. The system may allow a CLE coordinator to post CLE training opportunities for attorneys to browse, select, and request approval to attend. An administrator may receive the request via the network and approve or reject the CLE training request. The attorney may submit expenses using the system for reimbursement. The system may also provide for, or be in communication with, an accounting system to enable the CLE coordinator to manage a CLE training budget.

Problems solved by technology

As shown, the CLE requirements can be quite complex, thereby being a challenge for each attorney in the states to meet the CLE credit requirements.

In addition to the importance for individual attorneys to maintain their annual CLE credit requirements, law firms that have attorneys who do not fulfill their annual CLE credit requirements may also face problems, including public reprimand and fines.

Because of the CLE requirements in different states and law firm policies, the CLE coordinator, particularly for a multi-state law firm, may be faced with a very difficult job.

While this serves to be useful for attorneys to manage their CLE requirements and CLE course providers to promote their CLE courses, the CLE tracking systems available provide little more than what is possible with a paper and pen from a law firm management's point of view.

While conventional CLE tracking systems provide for easier ways to monitor CLE credits and access CLE courses, these CLE tracking systems are still limited in their functionality for law firms to manage individual attorneys based on law firm economics.

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